Chapter 5
That was Alan’s first thought as soon as he opened the door.”
The living room was a disaster zone–smashed vases, overturned chairs, broken memories scattered everywhere. Right in the middle of it all, Summer sat on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, head buried, as if she could hide from everything.%
Alan didn’t even hesitate. He rushed to her side and wrapped his arms around her. “Baby, are you okay? Did you get hurt?“%
Summer glanced up at him. The worry in his eyes was so real, so desperate, that for a moment, it was impossible to connect this caring man to the betrayal she’d just uncovered.
She pushed him away, her voice cold and steady. “Who’s Lena?“%
Shock flashed across Alan’s face. His lips went pale. “Lena? I don’t know anyone named Lena.”%
Summer let out a bitter laugh, pulling a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket and tossing it at him, “You don’t? Then why is your name on her prenatal report?” He stiffened, his breath stalling. “Baby, I-“}
She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand, her words sharp and final, “Alan, stop lying. I know everything. Let’s just get a divorce.“%
Panic took over his face. He grabbed her hands, his voice shaking. “No, please, Summer. Don’t say that. I don’t want a divorce!”
She looked up at him, her heart full of pain and irony. “But you’re already dirty to me, Alan. I can’t forgive this.”
His face drained of color. “It was a mistake. Just once, I swear. I’m not–“%
“But you are. You betrayed us.”
She closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. “Let’s just end things cleanly, Alan. Please.”
He clung to her, desperate. “Summer, please, don’t go. I’ll do anything. Anything but divorce.”
She shook her head. “Your promises don’t mean anything anymore. Let’s just let each other go.”%
She turned and walked away.2
Alan stood there, watching her leave, his hands pressed to his heart, trying to hold himself together as the pain threatened to tear him apart./
“Summer, do you really have to leave me?” His voice was barely above a whisper.2
“Yes.” She closed her eyes, fighting to keep her tears in check.
Alan couldn’t take it anymore. He took a shaky breath and called out, “Someone, take Mrs. Miller to her room. No one lets her out unless I say so.”%
Summer spun around, disbelief written all over her face. “Alan, are you really going to lock me up?”
He shook his head. “It’s not like that. I just want you to calm down, Summer. Listen… Lena looks so much like you. The baby will, too. After she has the child, I’ll send her away. We’ll pretend none of this happened. We’ll go back to how things were, okay?”
Summer just stared at him like she was seeing a stranger.”
He wanted her to pretend nothing happened? To act like he hadn’t cheated and had a baby with someone else?
Her voice was empty, broken. “That’s impossible. The second you had a baby with her, we were done.”
Alan trembled, his face ghost–white, but he just wouldn’t give up. “It’s fine, Sumrner. We have time. We’ll figure it out.”
Then he gestured to the housekeeper. “Watch her. No one sees her except me.“%
